Futureproofing Glass Fabrication
GPAD Preview 2022 happening February 24 at 1 pm ET! Register Here
Join a conversation with GPAD Founding Partner, FeneTech, Inc. and fellow Platinum Sponsor, Diamon-Fusion International, led by NGA President & CEO Nicole Harris on what to expect at Glass Processing Automation Days (GPAD). Who attends, what is accomplished and what YOU can gain from participating - all of this and more will be covered in a special sneak peek webinar dedicated to helping your decide and prepare for some important strategic business growth planning.
About GPAD
Glass Processing Automation Days (GPAD) will be held Mar. 29-30 in Nashville. This is a chance for glass fabricators to join the best minds in glass fabrication, technology, machinery and more for education, tabletop displays, plenty of networking, and solutions for the future. GPAD was founded in 2013 by FeneTech Inc.; NGA took over as organizer in 2019, with FeneTech recognized as a Founding Partner.
New for 2022! Included with your GPAD registration, 'Bridging the Supply Chain' features a half-day of solution sharing programming that bridges the Building Envelope Contractors (BEC) Conference and GPAD on Mar. 29, providing a unique and timely opportunity to bring you together with your glazing contractor customers and suppliers to tackle pain points in our supply chain.
Event Information
Event Registration
Attendee Registration Rate: $150 per person
Schedule (Subject to Change)
Two event audiences combine for one excellent networking hour. GPAD registrants are invited to attend this reception in conjunction with the BEC Conference to kick-off your social calendar.
Networking breakfast with Bloody Mary bar kicks off the day.
Welcome to the 'Bridging the Supply Chain' programming connecting contract glaziers, fabricators and suppliers, and hear from NGA’s marketing partner Messe Dusseldorf NA on what to expect at glasstec 2022..
Take in these fast-paced, information-packed mini sessions as part of the special 'Bridging the Supply Chain' programming showcasing the latest glass technology.
Now more than ever, communication is key when it comes to delivering products and projects on time and on budget. As part of the special 'Bridging the Supply Chain' programming, this session will explore how to ethically influence and persuade people to develop and sustain trusted relationships across the supply chain.
Presented by Brian Ahearn, author, consultant, corporate trainer with over 30 years' experience
Take in these fast-paced, information-packed mini sessions as part of the special 'Bridging the Supply Chain' programming with discussions surrounding solutions to common pain points.
Networking lunch
This unique panel presentation will feature five companies that are part of a strategic partnership to streamline factory and supply chain operations. Topics will include the importance of communication among machinery suppliers, the need to ensure machines “talk” to one another on the plant floor, plus common challenges for fabricators in incorporating new software and machinery, and more.
Sponsored by: Dip-Tech, Airtho, Billco, Forel and Mappi
Moderated by Ron Crowl, FeneTech, Inc and GPAD Founding Partner
Work center automation can be completed locally; however, the complete integration of your shop floor can only be accomplished with strong software tools. This presentation will provide an overview of the importance of selecting a software platform as the backbone of automation within your glass fabrication facility.
Dave Miller, Business Development and
Craig Morris, VP of Engineering
FeneTech, Inc.
New technologies and merging on-line and on-site is reshaping production and factories in all sectors, and Bovone is – as always since 1954 – at the forefront of this revolution for what concerns the glass industry. Our vision of the future in glass production shapes around two pillars, automation and on-line development, we continue offering new solutions: glass edging and washing fully automated robotic systems with multiple robots that automate the full process and remote solutions to manage the equipment such as our BVA – Bovone Virtual Assistant – and remote Industry 4.0 access to real time data in order to operate predictive and on-time maintenance.
Douglas Mangus, General Manager
Bovone North America
Event venue coming soon!
Sponsored by FeneTech, Inc.
Inline Flat Lamination (IFL) advances the way that glass fabricators can produce their laminated glass needs. Faster, smarter, more energy efficient, and flexible to meet a vast array of needs, BURKLE is honored to present the laminating solution for the future of your operation.
Robert Gaiser, Sales Manager, Glass and Solar Equipment
Burkle North America
More presentation details coming soon! Sponsored by Glaston
For years now the glass industry has embraced automation as a way to streamline processes, keep costs low, and increase productivity. Years later, we are now seeing fabricators understand the impacts of automating the protective coating application process and the exponential growth it is creating for their business. Along with this understanding, fabricators also see automating the protective coating process as the next step in expanding their glass offerings and differentiating their business. In this session, Diamon-Fusion International (DFI) will look at how these trends in automation have come about, its importance in futureproofing glass fabrication, and which markets are experiencing the most success. DFI will also present various case studies of fabricators who have transformed their business structure utilizing the benefits of glass coating machinery.
Syndi Sim, VP Marketing and Business Development
Diamon-Fusion International
More presentation details coming soon!
Sponsored by Lattuada North America
The “futureproofing” of glass fabrication will be all about prescriptive planned maintenance across all glass tempering and fabrication lines. Effective and scheduled routine maintenance will eliminate time consuming repairs, optimize schedules, increase readiness and productivity, create safer environments for workers and ultimately improve the bottom lines of glass fabricators.
Terry Hessom, VP of Operations
HHH Equipment Resources
This discussion highlights the power of using multiple technologies, including true scanning and true bright field/dark technology, at multiple locations, for quality control. Understand which technology is best for your specific application, and integration into your ERP, Material Handling, or other production equipment. Real-time, 100% Inline quality checkpoints throughout your value stream are a must to deliver quality products consistently and reliably. Integration serves as a safety net to ensure consistent results when bringing on new employees and projects.
Nate Huffman, President
SoftSolution North America, Inc. | LiteSentry
Although not completely avoidable, human error can be substantially minimized. In this presentation we will discuss why recognizing cause and effect of CNC crashes is critical in protecting your production; and what you can do to efficiently recover from and minimize the frequency of these errors.
Chris Cullum, Sales Manager and Machinery Advisor
CMS Industries
This presentation will focus on the often-forgotten or underestimated requirement of adding quality checkpoints along the process stream you wish to automate. These quality checkpoints ensure the glass being produced is at repeatable quality levels as defined in your quality plans - ensuring maximum reliability and productivity. These quality checkpoints can be added to any glass process both vertically or horizontally, from glass cutting to glass fabrication, including tempering, laminating and insulating glass production.
Presented by Scott Knisely, President
Viprotron North America
Effective automation requires an understanding of how technology, data, equipment and labor come together to meet ever changing market demands. Presentation will begin with storage, loading and cutting solutions (Macotec SRL). Demonstrate how double edging lines (Schiatti Angelo) with automatic loaders, barcode readers, automatic unloaders, automatic diamond spindles, and remote maintenance management systems streamline flexible production. Complete with laminating lines (Hornos Pujol) designed to quickly, efficiently and effectively meet demands of an ever-expanding laminated glass product portfolio.
Pete DeGorter, Vice President of Operations & Sales Manager
George Rufra, Special Projects & Lead Solutions Manager
DeGorter, Inc.
Book Your Stay in Downtown Nashville
$279/night + tax
Group Rate guaranteed until March 4.
Book your room.
The Grand Hyatt has limited rooms left. If you are unable to obtain a room, please click the link below for the Cambria Hotel - a five minute walk from the Grand Hyatt.
Cambria Hotel
118 8th Ave S
$279/night + tax
Book your room.
Room block dates are Sat, March 26 – Wed, March 30. If you are arriving or departing outside these dates, please contact Kelly Peterson at Kelly.Peterson@concordhotels.com.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Whole-Factory Solutions Panel
Insights
Blogs and Articles
Futureproofing Glass Fabrication
By Nicole Harris, NGA
How GPAD is Live Research for Business Improvement
By Don Power, Aldora
The Digital Factory
By Katy Devlin, Glass Magazine
Bringing It All Together
By Ron Crowl, FeneTech
Top Takeaways, From a GPAD First-Timer
By Keith Lewallen, Hartung Glass
NGA Pandemic Policy
Download the NGA Pandemic Policy | Download Nashville COVID Testing Sites
Commitment to Your Health & Safety
Your health and safety are always a priority for us. As NGA maintains its best efforts to host in-person events, we continue to closely monitor the guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with local governments to comply with current guidelines and ensure we provide an environment that is as safe as possible for our participants and staff.
At GPAD and/or the BEC Conference
In light of the heightened transmission potential of the latest Omicron variant of COVID-19, masks will be required by all attendees and staff participating in GPAD and/or the BEC Conference.
Masks may be removed while eating or drinking. Otherwise, please wear a mask while seated as a courtesy to those around you.
Attendee Registration Acknowledgement
GPAD and/or BEC Conference attendee assumes all risks and accepts sole responsibility for any injury (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind, that attendee may experience or incur in connection with attending GPAD and/or the BEC Conference. Attendee hereby releases, covenants not to sue, discharges, and holds harmless ASSOCIATION, its employees, agents, and representatives, of and from any such claims, including all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating thereto.
Specifically relating to the global COVID‐19 pandemic, attendee acknowledges the highly contagious nature of COVID‐19 and voluntarily assumes the risk of exposure or infection by attending GPAD and/or the BEC Conference, and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, disability, and/or death to attendee. Attendee understands that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID‐19 at the EVENT may result from the actions, omissions, or negligence of others who may attend the event or their families, colleagues, or others with whom they may have contact. Accordingly, attendee understands and agrees that this release includes any claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of ASSOCIATION, its employees, agents, and representatives, whether a COVID‐19 infection occurs before, during, or after participation in GPAD and/or the BEC Conference.
In addition to all other rules and regulations relating to the attendee’s attendance at GPAD and/or the BEC Conference, attendee agrees to comply with all COVID‐related procedures that may be implemented by National Glass Association and by the Grand Hyatt Nashville Hotel, including, but not limited to, mask‐wearing and social distancing requirements and restrictions on certain activities that carry higher COVID‐related risk, in order to protect as much as possible the health and safety of all attendees.